2019 Corolla Hatchback

[Kalispel]

Originally Posted by kimona

^^^ Decent review. Motor, transmission, acceleration, ride quality, and fuel consumption are reasonably impressive. The new CVT sounds much more agreeable than the miserable CVT it replaces. Can't say I'm a big fan of that tall touchscreen display sitting atop the dash... which is fast becoming a trend. Cargo space seems really tight with the load floor being so high! Exterior styling is not as hideous as most recent Toyota models, though I could do without that stupid looking rear spoiler. And, $395 for that wretched blizzard pearl paint? Wonder what other colours will be available?

I'm pretty much on the same page as you.

The new combo port+direct inject engine is perfect, and eliminates the carbon deposit problems of automakers foolishly using straight GDI engine designs. Likewise, the CVT w/launch gear pretty much eliminates the primary problems with CVT's - namely all the stress put on a traditional CVT system during initial get-up-and-go (especially if you have a heavy foot), and the accompanying crappy rubbery feel of the belts during that time. Very innovative of Toyota on both accounts.

Main dislikes:
- Fish-face iA-clone front grill styling, made even worse by the weird headlight shape. The chrome trim framing grill on XSE just pours salt on the ugly wound.
- Tacky looking chrome, fake dual-exhaust ports on rear bumper. Toyota should have kept the nice, classy exhaust setup as iM had (hidden muffler, and nice single exhaust pipe with OEM SS exhaust tip.
- Clumsy-looking, distracting tablet touchscreen shooting up from main dash.
- Didn't stick with balanced 17" wheels & 45 series tires (like iM) on either trim. You can either go with (slightly too large) 18" wheels & uncomfortable 40 series tires (XSE), or go with too-small (for that car) 16" wheels on the 55 series tires (SE). Both the 18" & 16" wheels have a nice design, but should have both been 17" with those same designs to differentiate models.
- Rear hatch has a bit too much slope to it in its attempt to look aggressive, at the expense of cargo space. My little Yaris probably has more space back there, lol.
- Lackluster and/or unattractive (to me) color options. Black or bust I guess. A dark/slate blue would have been nice, or a nice darker graphite color. Brown Sugar Metallic would have been nicer than that weird looking bronze-brown color they have.

[Kalispel]

I checked out the 2019 Corolla hatchback in-person yesterday (both XSE & SE), while waiting for my regular 40K maintenance service.

Front seats are comfortable & stylish. Doesn't feel as roomy/open as my Yaris, due to the way the cockpit sort of wraps around the driver, and the ceiling is lower. Not bad - just a different feel. Larger (rotund/stocky) people may find it sort of cramped, but it was okay for me (normal/lean build). Even at 6ft2in tall my Yaris ceiling seems unnaturally high (& probably why the front windshield is so damn tall), so I actually like the lower ceiling on the new Corolla better. Interior is more 'deluxe' than a Yaris, naturally, but still not a fan of the jetting touchscreen integration into the dash, nor the look/design of the air vents in general. Inside doors/design are nice & the handle is much better than the inside squeaky plastic handle/grip on the Yaris. Front door feels strangely elongated for a 4-door car & easy to bang into something when you open them, but perhaps just because I am used to the shorter, lighter doors on my Yaris 4-door. Center console/armrest, and more storage in general is nice on the new Corolla.

Exterior doesn't look any better in-person. In-fact, it looks/feels worse. Weird hoodline. Ugly front grill/bumper design, & ugly, weird/stupid shaped headlights. Rear bumper & side skirt pieces had a lightweight, thin, cheap feel to them (the iM felt like it had better materials quality in this regard). The chrome-painted plastic fake exhaust port inserts are just laughably tacky. Rear hatch slope is sort of annoying, but its cool that the hatch is made out of lightweight ceramic instead of metal. XSE wheels are a nice design, but wish they were the exact same thing in 17" instead, with tires that balance sportiness with practicality better. The 16" wheels on the SE Corolla hatch still look a tad too small for that car (reminds me of the small wheels & skinny tires the base Matrix had back in the day, that ruined the entire look of the vehicle). Those 16" wheels would look great on a Yaris though if they weren't 5-lug wheels.

The 'Scarlet' 2019 Corolla hatch looked to me in-person (outside, in bright morning AZ sunlight) more like a dark/burnt orange-rust color than red. It wasn't attractive. The 'Oxide Bronze' color also had a sickly look to it in-person. WTH Toyota?

All in all, except for the new, more innovative engine/CVT design of the new 2019 Corolla hatch, I think I actually prefer the outgoing Corolla iM more in pretty much every other way. I am not interested in this car any longer, at least not in this current gen cycle version (2019-2021).

[ern-diz]

Originally Posted by Kalispel

...Front door feels strangely elongated for a 4-door car & easy to bang into something when you open them, but perhaps just because I am used to the shorter, lighter doors on my Yaris 4-door...

Funny you mention because us 2-door guys have literal airplane wings for doors. They're enormous and they don't have the built-in stopping points most cars have, or at least they're not nearly as stiff, because a light breeze will quickly send these massive doors into the car next to you.

[junorico24]

Just saw this beauty in person. WOW! what a looker specially in blue and black line up in a row.

Right next to it was the 86. What beautiful sight. Toyota FTW!

For those who haven't seen it the metal you should it's a gorgeous car.

[justanotherdrunk]

at lunch today

[kimona]

Originally Posted by justanotherdrunk

at lunch today

Pretty good looking there.


Off topic: Appears to have one of the TEq (Toyoda トヨダ) decals I custom made. I sold a bunch of them on craigslist.

[DarkShadowFox]

Originally Posted by ern-diz

Funny you mention because us 2-door guys have literal airplane wings for doors. They're enormous and they don't have the built-in stopping points most cars have, or at least they're not nearly as stiff, because a light breeze will quickly send these massive doors into the car next to you.

they work fine for me.

[ern-diz]

Originally Posted by DarkShadowFox

they work fine for me.

The doors working and them being huge with not as stiff holding points are two completely different things, right?

I never said they don't work. They obviously work. What I said was that they are bigger than the average and don't have the multiple, stiff stopping points when opening that you'll get with a lot of other cars. For that reason, I'm always careful when opening them, especially when it's windy.

[DarkShadowFox]

Originally Posted by ern-diz

The doors working and them being huge with not as stiff holding points are two completely different things, right?

I never said they don't work. They obviously work. What I said was that they are bigger than the average and don't have the multiple, stiff stopping points when opening that you'll get with a lot of other cars. For that reason, I'm always careful when opening them, especially when it's windy.

its called economy. Im used to opening them.

[DarkShadowFox]

looks like a MAZDA 2

[kimona]

These days, I don't think anything from Toyota even begins to approach "masterpiece" status.

Who is selling uglier cars than Toyota? Hmmm.... can't think of anyone.

[Hershey]

We looked at one and had sticker shock ! $23,000+. All these , , , , hit at that moment .

[kimona]

This single interior design feature would be a deal breaker for me:

[junorico24]

I'm impressed. I hope the Yaris gets the same treatment.

[Whiplash]

Such a nice colour.

[justanotherdrunk]

cool ^

[Kalispel]

Hate that pukey blue color, and what's up with that piece of black tape next to the driver's side vertical rear bumper reflector? Wasn't the plastic, chrome-plated fake rear exhausts tacky enough of a look?

I had a chance to check out the XSE & SE at the dealership last time I was there for service, & it was even more unattractive (to me) in-person (just like the CH-R - holy crap, don't even get me started on that POS). I dropped the 2019 Corolla hatch off my list, after giving it a good inspection inside & out. I like my current Yaris SE (or even an iM) better than the new 2019 Corolla hatch, & I have a feeling the new TNGA 2020 Corolla sedan is going to be more of the same, with very little difference from the 2019 hatch. What a waste of an interesting new engine & drivetrain. Wonder how bad Toyota will ruin the TNGA Yaris in 2021.

[junorico24]

No contest.Corolla wins